The Power of Choice

We live in an era of aesthetics. Art has become both pervasive and powerful – it is displayed not only in museums and galleries but also on the walls of corporations and it is increasingly fused with design. But what makes art so powerful, and in what does its power consist? 

According to a widespread view, the power of art – its beauty – lies in the eye of the beholder. What counts as art appears to be a function of individual acts of evaluation supported by powerful institutions. On this account, the power of art stems from a force that is not itself aesthetic, such as the art market and the financial power of speculators. Art expresses, in a disguised form, the power of something else – like money – that lies behind it. In one word, art has lost its autonomy. 

In this short book, Markus Gabriel rejects this view. He argues that art is essentially uncontrollable. It is in the nature of the work of art to be autonomous to such a degree that the art world will never manage to overpower it. Ever since the cave paintings of Lascaux, art has taken hold of the human mind and implemented itself in our very being. Thanks to the emergence of art we became human beings, that is, beings who lead their lives in light of an image of the human being and its position in the world and in relation to other species. Due to its structural, ontological power, art itself is and remains radically autonomous. Yet, this power is highly ambiguous, as we cannot control its unfolding. 

In this book, a leading proponent of New Realism applies this philosophical perspective to art to create a new aesthetic realism.

The need for realism in reform of its monetary system is what makes Bernstein’s story of the Power of Gold so timely. It is a compelling reminder that maintaining a fixed price for gold and fixed exchange rates were difficult even in a simpler financial environment….Peter Bernstein was reluctant to project the story of gold into the future. But to me his message was clear. Yes, gold will be with us, valued not only for its intrinsic qualities but as a last refuge and store of value in turbulent times. But its days as money, as a means of payment and a fixed unit of account are gone. —From the New Foreword by Paul Volcker This bestselling book reveals a record of human nature in the ubiquity of gold with a new foreword by Paul Volcker In this exciting book, the late Peter L. Bernstein tells the story of history's most coveted, celebrated, and inglorious asset: gold. From the ancient fascinations of Moses and Midas through the modern convulsions caused by the gold standard and its aftermath, gold has led many of its most eager and proud possessors to a bad end. And while the same cycle of obsession and desperation may reverberate in today's fast-moving, electronically-driven markets, the role of gold in shaping human history is the striking feature of this tumultuous tale. Such is the power of gold. Whether it is Egyptian pharaohs with depraved tastes, the luxury-mad survivors of the Black Death, the Chinese inventor of paper money, the pirates on the Spanish Main, or the hardnosed believers in the international gold standard, gold has been the supreme possession. It has been an icon for greed and an emblem of rectitude, as well as a vehicle for vanity and a badge of power that has shaped the destiny of humanity through the ages. Discusses the beginnings of gold as something with magical, religious, and artistic qualities and follows its trail as we progress to the invention of coinage, the transformation of gold into money, and the gold standard Other bestselling books by the late Peter Bernstein: Against the Gods, Capital Ideas, and Capital Ideas Evolving Contemplates gold from the diverse perspectives of monarchs and moneyers, potentates and politicians, men of legendary wealth and others of more plebeian beginnings Far more than a tale of romantic myths, daring explorations, and the history of money and power struggles, The Power of Gold suggests that the true significance of this infamous element may lie in the timeless passions it continues to evoke, and what this reveals about ourselves.

The Cult of Ancestors is the long-awaited debut book by the winner of the sixteenth season of 'Battle of the Psychics' - Viktoria Raidos. The author discusses how the actions of distant ancestors continue to influence our destiny today. She also answers the most important question: Is it possible to change what is literally 'written in the family?' The ability to learn from mistakes and to improve is the basis of both biological and spiritual evolution. One of the most important human tools to help achieve this is conscious attention on the themes of our destiny. This is very important in relation to the history of the family: direct ancestors act on a person automatically, and in order to somehow change their influence you must first understand them. The influence of distant ancestors, on the other hand, and the help they can give is almost impossible to feel and receive without knowledge of them and their fates. Usually, in order to act correctly, you need to understand who you are and where you are. Victoria is convinced that, in many ways, this understanding comes from a kind of knowledge gained through the history of your ancestors. The force that has been transmitted over centuries from one generation to the next, which is located in your physiology and psyche, develops into certain themes that affect your very life. If you learn to see and change these stories, you will learn to change your destiny.

The Cult of Ancestors is the long-awaited debut book by the winner of the sixteenth season of 'Battle of the Psychics' - Viktoria Raidos. The author discusses how the actions of distant ancestors continue to influence our destiny today. She also answers the most important question: Is it possible to change what is literally 'written in the family?' The ability to learn from mistakes and to improve is the basis of both biological and spiritual evolution. One of the most important human tools to help achieve this is conscious attention on the themes of our destiny. This is very important in relation to the history of the family: direct ancestors act on a person automatically, and in order to somehow change their influence you must first understand them. The influence of distant ancestors, on the other hand, and the help they can give is almost impossible to feel and receive without knowledge of them and their fates. Usually, in order to act correctly, you need to understand who you are and where you are. Victoria is convinced that, in many ways, this understanding comes from a kind of knowledge gained through the history of your ancestors. The force that has been transmitted over centuries from one generation to the next, which is located in your physiology and psyche, develops into certain themes that affect your very life. If you learn to see and change these stories, you will learn to change your destiny.

In this new collection of lectures and essays Jurgen Habermas engages with a wide range of figures in twentieth-century thought. The book displays once again his ability to capture the essence of a thinker's work, his feeling for the texture of intellectual traditions and his outstanding powers of critical assessment. Habermas has described these essays as 'fragments of a history of contemporary philosophy'. The volume includes explorations of the work of Ernst Cassirer, Karl Jaspers and Gershom Scholem, as well as reponses to friends and colleagues such as Michael Thuenissen, Karl-Otto Apel and the writer and film-maker Alexander Kluge. It also includes pieces on the Finnish philosopher Georg Henrik von Wright and the theologian Johann Baptist Metz. This new volume will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Habermas and twentieth-century philosophy.

Gary Quinn ist der Starcoach von Hollywood und viele Schauspieler vertrauen ihm! YES! YES! YES! Mit einem Wort effektiv und positiv durch den Alltag. In seinem neuen Buch und kompakten Leitfaden vermittelt Gary Quinn praktische und tiefgreifende Strategien zur Selbsterkenntnis und Selbsthilfe. "Positive Leitgedanken in Form von hilfreichen Hintergrundinformationen, Inspirationen und Affirmationen, inmitten eines hektischen Alltages positiv, kraftvoll und optimistisch zu bleiben, sich von limitierenden ?berzeugungen, ?ngsten und Anhaftungen zu l?sen, alte Gewohnheiten und Sabotagemechanismen mit Leichtigkeit zu durchbrechen, die eigene Intuition, Kreativit?t und verborgenes Potential zu entschl?sseln,und die eigenen W?nsche und F?higkeiten zu erkennen, zu manifestieren und zu leben." Linda Gray, Hauptdarstellerin in der Fernsehserie «Dallas» "Sag JA zum Leben, und das Leben sagt JA zu dir!' In seinem inspirierenden Buch vermittelt Gary wichtige Codes, um Blockaden und Selbstsabotagemechanismen hinter sich lassen zu k?nnen, sodass man lernt, in der YES-Frequenz zu leben und die Tr?ume seines Lebens zu manifestieren! Du hast die Wahl – also sag JA zu deinem Leben!" Don Miguel Ruiz, Autor des New York Times Bestsellers «Die vier Versprechen» YES – was f?r ein kraftvolles Wort. Gary Quinn hat mit diesem einfachen und zugleich kraftvollen Wort so viel bewirkt. «Sag JA zum Leben!» Danke, Gary, dieses Buch kommt zur rechten Zeit und wird das Leben von vielen Menschen verbessern.

Transform your marketing efforts through the power of visual content In today's fast-paced environment, you must communicate your message in a concise and engaging way that sets it apart from the noise. Visual content—such as infographics and data visualization—can accomplish this. With DIY functionality, Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling will teach you how to find stories in your data, and how to visually communicate and share them with your audience for maximum impact. Infographics will show you the vast potential to using the communication medium as a marketing tool by creating informative and shareable infographic content. Learn how to explain an object, idea, or process using strong illustration that captures interest and provides instant clarity Discover how to unlock interesting stories (in previously buried or boring data) and turn them into visual communications that will help build brands and increase sales Use the power of visual content to communicate with and engage your audience, capture attention, and expand your market.

We have long been told that corporations rule the world, their interests seemingly taking precedence over states and their citizens. Yet, while states, civil society, and international organizations are well drawn in terms of their institutions, ideologies, and functions, the world's global corporations are often more simply sketched as mechanisms of profit maximization. In this book, John Mikler re-casts global corporations as political actors with complex identities and strategies. Debunking the idea of global corporations as exclusively profit-driven entities, he shows how they seek not only to drive or modify the agendas of states but to govern in their own right. He also explains why we need to re-territorialize global corporations as political actors that reflect and project the political power of the states and regions from which they hail. We know the global corporations' names, we know where they are headquartered, and we know where they invest and operate. Economic processes are increasingly produced by the control they possess, the relationships they have, the leverage they employ, the strategic decisions they make, and the discourses they create to enhance acceptance of their interests. This book represents a call to study how they do so, rather than making assumptions based on theoretical abstractions.

Praise for The Power of We «In The Power of We, Jonathan Tisch reminds us again that working together still yields the best results. Jon has spent a lifetime mobilizing people and organizations to get a job done in business and in civic service. His experience, optimism, intelligence, and common sense are reflected in this fresh look at the rewards of partnerships.» -President Bill Clinton «The Power of We offers a clear and compelling lesson in how today's business leaders can create new synergies and gain competitive advantage by learning how to partner successfully.» -Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express Company «Jon Tisch has lived the strategy he describes in The Power of We, and now this extraordinary man and successful leader shares his strategy with us. Building partnerships at all levels-social, intellectual, and political, as well as entrepreneurial-will be one of the keys to progress in the coming decades. Jon Tisch provides a road map for those who grasp that reality.» -John Sexton, President, New York University «Being a leader requires vision, focus, and influence. Jonathan Tisch has exhibited all three in this great body of work about what it takes to be a partner and something bigger than yourself. The Power of We is a must read.» -Pat Riley, President, the Miami HEAT

"…perfect for the digital photographer.... The depth of information on all aspects of color control is astonishing. Anyone who needs detailed control over every aspect of their images will revel in this book." —Computer Arts Magazine http://www.computerarts.co.uk There's More to Photoshop Elements Than Meets the Eye In this unique book, expert author Richard Lynch reveals hidden functionality in Photoshop Elements-advanced features concealed in the code that dramatically extend the power of the software. First you'll learn high-level image editing from this renowned professional, then vault yourself into the ranks of advanced power users with the more than one hundred Hidden Power tools he provides on CD. You'll be amazed at what you can do! Inside, discover features usually found only in advanced image editors: Add shadows, highlights, and contrast with new Curves Presets Get beautiful and accurate color printing with CMYK separations tools Use the hidden Blend If and other power tools to apply sophisticated masks Emulate the Channel Mixer and Calculations functions of Photoshop Handle an image from start to finish using only the included Hidden Power tools Take full advantage of the latest Elements 4 updates to color management settings and Adobe(r) Gamma procedures Discover dozens more high-end functions such as snapshots, clipping paths, the history brush, and others Exclusive Elements Power Tools Included on CD! Unlock more than 100 hidden functions to power up your image editing, including: Color separations (RGB, CMYK, or Lab) Masking Channels Snapshots and History Brush Clipping Paths Custom Vectors Enhanced Sharpening Guides Fade Align/Distribute Objects The CD also includes numerous images and project files to use along with exercises in the book. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.